Deflection vernier for machine guns



Dec.y 13, 1927. 11,652,499

c. T. SCHWAB, JR

DEFLECTION VERNIER FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Oct. 30, 1924 pf" ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED stares CHARLES T. SCHWAB, JR., OF CUERO, TEXAS.

DEFLECTION VERNIER FOR MACHINE GUNS.

Application led October 30, 1924.

The present invention has been designed particularly for use in connection with the Browning machine gun, which is well known to the forces constituting the defense of the United States, and the said invention resides in certain devices which enable deflection to be very accurately determined in mils., and

rwhich will permit reading of the deflection in a direct and simple manner.

The construction in which the features of .the invention have been embodied, and by means of which the results desired are attained, will now be specifically described, and the novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly perspective, showing parts of the mounting ot a machine gun, with my in'iprovements in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the graduated plate, with the vernierl and stops thereon.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view ci the plate showing some co-operating features of construction.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the Vernier, and showing also a section on the diameter of the plate.

Fig. 5 is a View in sid-e elevation ot one o'l' the stops.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation ot the clamp for positioning the plate.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a plate or disc which is designed to replace the usual graduated ring ot' the machine gun. The said plate is preferably made from cold rolled brass, and the tace et its circular margin is divided into six hundred and forty equal spaces, each space com-` prising ten mils. In forming the graduations, each ten spaces, or one hundred mils., is indicated by an elongated line to which a numeral is applied, the numerals running from 1 to 64 inclusive. The plate 10 is formed upon its underside with a concentric groove 11 and a like outer groove 12, and also with a large central opening 18.

The said plate is placed over the head of the gun tripod, the groove 11 positioning the plate thereon, the clamp 14 through the thumb nut 14 serving to hold the plate in its adjusted position. The standard 15 of Serial No. 746,740.

the gun mounting` is then positioned upon the head ot' the tripod.

The vernici constructed as a radial arm 1b is threaded at its inner end into the standard 15, ann overlies the plate 10. At its outer end, the radial arm of the Vernier carries a plate 17 which is graduated into twenty spaces, running right and lett trom Zero, which graduations correspond to eighteen of the spaces upon the graduated plate 10, so that readings ot one mil. can be taken. A thumb screw 18 is threaded intothe underside of the outer end otl the vernier, and acts to clamp the vernier plate 17 in position upon the arm 1G, the said plate 17 having an inwardly extending linger 19, which guides the plate 1? at the underside of the plate 10.

Stops 20 and 21 are positioned upon the plate 10 at each side of the vernier, such stops carrying thumb screws 23, the points of which move in the outer groove 12 formed upon the underside of the plat-e 10, and which are adapted to be set by engaging the points ot the screws with the plate. 'the purpose ot the stops is to permit the gun to be moved through certain angles in laying down barrages, for night work, and as a basis tor determining additional angles.

l have tound by actual use that the invention greatly facilitates .direct tiring where the targetcr object is invisible, but the rlocation ot which can be ascertained by triangulation. The number of mils. in the angle between 'the reference point and the object being determined, the gun is aimed at the reference point, and the plate 10 is moved until the Zero on the plate coincides with the zero on the Vernier. rllhe plate 10 is then clamped to the tripod by means `oi the clamp 14, a nd the gun is moved through such number ot' mils. as the relative positions ot the reference point and the object require; and the gun is then clamped to the tripod and tired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A deflection vernier for machine guns, comprising a graduated movable plate positioned upon the tripod of the gun and having a zero point in its scale, a radial arm attached to the gun mounting, a vernier carried at the end of the said arm and likewlse having a zero point in its scale, the zeros of such scales co-inciding when the gun is aimed at the reference point, means for se- 5 curing the said plate in the position to which it has been moved, and means for clamping the arm and vernier in position upon the plate preparatory to firing after it has been moved the required distance as indicated by the said scales.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at College Station, Texas, this 21 day of October, 1924.

CHARLES T. SCHWAB, Jn. 

